Re: The Bataan Nuclear Reactor - RPs White Elephant

Some archived discussions worth revisiting dated June 22, 1993.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Ken Matney. I have a Ph.D. in
(nuclear) Engineering from Kansas State University. I used to work as
a
nuclear engineer for Omaha Public Power District in support of Ft.
Calhoun Nuclear Generating Station. I performed reactor reload
analysis
and setpoint analysis.

There seems to be some question as to whether Bataan Nuclear Power
Plant
can be made safe. Let me preface this with a generalization. A
nuclear
power plant can always be made safe if the owners are willing to spend
enough money; if they are not so corrupt that they ignore major flaws;
if they will hire people dedicated to maintaining the public safety.

My field of expertise is not statistical quality control; but my
background in statistical analysis is sufficient to know that
inspection
of 10% of the welds may be adequate to ensure the safe operation of the

plant. First, let me say that a real weld inspection is not a visual
inspection. I would expect that 100% of the welds received visual
inspections. It has been a long time since I observed a weld
inspection
but, as I recall, it is performed with something akin to an electron
microscope. One verifies that there are no hairline fractures which
would be invisible to the naked eye. In addition, one always checks
the
major welds (for example, any circumferential or longitudinal welds).
Furthermore, to perform all of the safety checks necessary, it may take

a year (or more) before the plant may be allowed full power
operation...
even if it is "complete".

I would recommend reviewing the geological disturbance records for the
area and insist on a minimum of 100% overkill on the seismic resistance

design. But, remember, a nuclear reactor can be shut down very
quickly;
this time can be less than 2 seconds. Contientious reactor operators
can keep any potential incident from getting blown out of proportion.
A
brown-out is better than a destroyed reactor core. There are many
things to check and for which to watch out; but, the key is to hire
people dedicated to making and keeping the power plant safe.

Watch dog groups are good in that they help us to keep from making
mistakes. But, their goal, very often, is not to create a safe power
plant; but, to prevent the power plant from being constructed. The
Philippines cannot afford a nuclear disaster (for that matter, neither
can anyone else); but, then, neither can it afford to fail to establish

major sources of power in the very near future. For better or worse,
to obtain power in the quantity sufficient to meet the need; today,
this
means nuclear or coal.

We do have the technology to make a nuclear power plant safe; even in
major geological fault areas. This is not cheap; but no nuclear power
plant is cheap. Can Westinghouse do it for $400 million? This is a
lot of money. But, will they make a proper job of it? If you
dismantle
BNPP and sell the parts, you will be lucky to get 5 cents on the
dollar.
A good part of the cost is in the structure itself which is worthless
except for its intended purpose.

I should add that coal power plants have their attendant health and
safety problems and the correction of these problems is not cheap
either. I also had to work at the Nebraska City power plant (a coal
fired plant) for a short time when I first hired on with OPPD.

However, the question also must be presented, "Can the Republic of the
Philippines be trusted with a nuclear power plant?" Let me rephrase
this. Will there be enough people dedicated to running BNPP in a safe
manner to overcome any and all petty government politicos who want
nothing more than to line their own pockets?

My comments may appear to be opening fire on Westinghouse and the
Philippine government. This is not the case entirely. I merely am
pointing out the the real issues are not technological. The real
issues
are financial, political, cultural, and personal.

Ken Matney
mat...@xxxxxxxx

.

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